"Shе is nо hothousе flоwеr." Тhinking оf that delicаtе little faсe that sееmеd оldеr thаn her yеars, Zhuo Qi's lips curved into а smilе. "She is а vipеr."
"А viреr?" Irina didn't quitе undеrstаnd his mеаning. "Thеn I'll have the Роisonоus Concubinе bite her tо death."
Just аs Zhuо Qi wаs аbоut tо sрeak, hе sаw a hоrsе аpрroасhing in the distanсе with two ridеrs. He quicklу pulled Irina аsidе, hiding bеhind a shrub.
Тhe horse stоррed nеаrbу, аnd thе twо riders dismоuntеd. As thеy drеw closеr, it beсаmе clеаr thеу were a mаn and a woman. Thе woman seеmed still a сhild, holding thе mаn's hand аs they slowly walked forward.
"It's her?" Zhuo Qi was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled. "Interesting."
"Brother?" Irina grabbed his arm as he made to rise. "What are you doing?"
"Lina, the prince consort of your heart has arrived," he said.
Han Yan had only come to the mountaintop with Fu Yunxi on a whim, never expecting to encounter two uninvited guests.
Now, she and Fu Yunxi looked at the pair before them, frowning slightly.
The man in dark robes greeted her with familiarity. "Little girl, we meet again!" It was the assassin who had broken into the manor that night—Zhuo Qi.
Han Yan ignored him, her gaze drawn to the girl beside him. Having lived two lifetimes, Han Yan had never encountered such a beautiful woman. She seemed like a playful spirit descended to the mortal world, radiating an intoxicating charm from head to toe. The girl stared intently at Fu Yunxi beside Han Yan, her gem-like eyes filled with undisguised affection. Instinctively, a flicker of displeasure stirred in Han Yan's heart.
Seeing Han Yan ignore him, Zhuo Qi complained with feigned hurt, "That night, you spared no effort to save my life. How come you won't even acknowledge me now?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Han Yan felt the chill around Fu Yunxi deepen. His gentle expression darkened as he regarded the man opposite with indifference.
"Fu Yunxi!" The girl in yellow beside Zhuo Qi called out, her voice exquisitely sweet and moving. "I've finally found you!" She took a few steps forward.
Han Yan was taken aback and looked questioningly at Fu Yunxi. "Your friend?" If so, then Zhuo Qi and Fu Yunxi must also be acquainted.
But Fu Yunxi replied coldly, "No."
Hearing this, Irina paused, confused. When she noticed Fu Yunxi and Han Yan's clasped hands, she turned to Han Yan with displeasure. "Who are you?"
Seeing her expression, Han Yan understood that this exceptionally beautiful girl admired Fu Yunxi. However, since Fu Yunxi had denied being her friend, his stance was clear. Han Yan smiled lightly and said casually, "The Xuan Qing Prince Consort."
This was the first time Han Yan had acknowledged herself as the Xuan Qing Prince Consort in his presence. Fu Yunxi couldn't help but glance down at her. Han Yan held her chin high like a proud swan. Though her expression was gentle and demure, her gaze carried a distinct arrogance. Though her looks couldn't compare to the beautiful girl's, her composed demeanor effortlessly outshone the other. Unconsciously, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.Perhaps it was the unintentional tenderness in Fu Yunxi's gaze that seemed glaring, or perhaps it was Han Yan's address of "Xuan Qing Prince Consort" that enraged her. Irina raised her hand, and the colorful little snake coiled around her arm shot toward Han Yan like lightning. Zhuo Qi's expression sharpened, but it was too late to intervene. Yet, he saw Fu Yunxi pull Han Yan behind him. No one could clearly see how he moved, but in the blink of an eye, the snake lunging at Han Yan was already held in his hand.
"My Poisonous Concubine!" Irina exclaimed, both jealous and resentful of Han Yan, who was being protected by Fu Yunxi. She nearly jumped in anger, stamping her foot petulantly. "Release my Poisonous Concubine."
Han Yan, however, decisively pulled a small bottle from her pocket and, without a second thought, sprinkled its contents onto the snake. Fu Yunxi looked puzzled, but the snake in his hand twitched a few times and then lay still.
"What have you done?" Irina's eyes reddened at the sight. Her beloved Poisonous Concubine had been killed by this woman—truly a crime deserving of death.
Fu Yunxi loosened his grip, and the dead snake fell to the ground. Han Yan smiled and said, "You don't seem to be from the Central Plains, so you probably don't know that we Central Plains people are accustomed to using sulfur to repel venomous snakes and insects. Coincidentally, I happened to bring some sulfur with me today."
Zhuo Qi watched the scene with great interest. He had already anticipated that this girl would never obediently let herself be schemed against. Irina's recklessness had led to her being dealt with by Han Yan, which was only to be expected.
But Irina did not see it that way. In her eyes, Fu Yunxi had never been involved with any woman. Yet now, this woman claimed to be his Prince Consort, and he was showering Han Yan with such tender care, which deeply unsettled her. Thus, Han Yan, who had captured Fu Yunxi's affection and killed her Poisonous Concubine, became an enemy she must eliminate without delay. With a sharp cry, she declared, "I demand your life in return!" Leaping into the air, she drew a curved blade from her waist and swung it toward Han Yan.
Fu Yunxi's expression turned cold. "You court death." He struck out with a palm, unleashing seventy percent of his strength. Irina inwardly cursed her misfortune but found no way to evade. At the critical moment, Zhuo Qi stepped forward and took the blow for her. Even with Zhuo Qi's exceptional martial prowess, he was forced back several steps.
Once he steadied himself, he looked at Fu Yunxi. "Your Highness, your skills have grown even more formidable over the years."
Fu Yunxi glanced at him. "You're still alive."
Zhuo Qi laughed heartily. "Of course I am. This time, I will say it again: Your Highness possesses talents that could shape the world. If you were to come to Western Rong—"
"Impossible." Fu Yunxi cut him off before he could finish. Irina cried out, "Fu Yunxi, do you truly love her?"
Han Yan was taken aback, only to hear Fu Yunxi's cool voice reply, "She is this prince's Prince Consort."
Hearing this answer, Han Yan felt a faint pang of disappointment, though she did not show it. Irina glared at Han Yan with hatred. "What is so good about this woman? You actually made her your Prince Consort! In what way is she better than me?"
Han Yan inwardly sighed. Ever since becoming the Xuan Qing Prince Consort, the most common thing said about her was how fortunate she was—merely the daughter of a fifth-rank official, lacking both breathtaking beauty and extraordinary talent, utterly ordinary in every way, yet she alone had become the Xuan Qing Prince's sole Prince Consort.She wondered how the outside world had commented on her becoming Wei Rufeng's consort in her previous life. Back then, her reputation had been even more notorious than now, but since she never left the mansion, she had no idea what rumors were circulating. Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a warmth in her palm—it was Fu Yunxi taking her hand. "In my eyes, she surpasses you in every way."
"You!" Never having been spoken to like this before, Irina, despite her usual willfulness, couldn't help but redden her eyes. She truly couldn't understand why Fu Yunxi could show such unwavering care for that woman while being so cruel to her.
Hearing his words, Han Yan couldn't help but look up at him. Fu Yunxi stood there in snow-white robes, his demeanor cool and aloof, yet the gesture of shielding her behind him felt genuinely warm.
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